By Evelyn Usman & Esther Onyegbula

LAGOS—THE Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, has directed the Lagos State Police Commissioner to arrest the spate of kidnappings in Festac Town in particular and Amuwo Odofin in general.

It was further learned that operatives of the IG Special Intelligence and Response Team would be drafted to Lagos to checkmate excesses of kidnappers in the area.

This move would not be unconnected with the series of kidnap of businessmen residing in Amuwo Odofin. Information at Vanguard’s disposal had it that between January 2015 till date, 10 businessmen had been kidnapped with ransom running into millions of naira paid for their release.

Vanguard gathered that most prominent businessmen in the area have gone into hiding, following the ugly trend.

Meanwhile, family members of Francis Umeh, the businessman that was kidnapped last Thursday in Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos State, have not heard from his abductors.

Vanguard gathered that when the incident occurred last Thursday, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, summoned the Area ‘E’ Commander.

This is just as relatives of Cosmos Ojukwu, another businessman who was abducted a week earlier at 21 Road, Festac Town, in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, have described as false reports that they paid N100 million ransom to the abductors.

Rather, the relatives told Vanguard that they were yet to hear from Ojukwu’s abductors.

Umeh, an auto parts dealer at Aspanda Market along Mile Two/Badagry Expressway was kidnapped at about 7.30p.m., in front of a filling station opposite his house.

The kidnappers rammed into his car from behind and when he alighted to ascertain the level of damage to his car, five gun-wielding occupants clad in military camouflage dragged him into their vehicle, shooting, and zoomed off.

When Vanguard visited Umeh’s residence yesterday, the gate was still under lock and key as the family members were said to have fled their abode.

A family member, who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, said: “The silence on the part of the kidnappers is heightening the already tensed situation. If they contact us, it would ease the tension and also give us assurance that our bread winner is hale and hearty.”